Luca’s 2014 Paraje Altamira Malbec sets itself well above the competition. This is definitely no run of the mill Malbec, but a smooth, polished wine of splendid proportion. Permeated by real cachet, finesse, and layers of savory dark cherry, cassis, violet, unsmoked tobacco and vanilla flavors, the 2014 Luca Paraje Altamira Malbec offers authentic drinking pleasure while at the same time raising the bar on Malbec. If most Argentine Malbecs...

Benovia consistently fashions exceptional Russian River Chardonnay, and from one vintage to the next, this winery does not miss a beat. Awarded Gold at the prestigious San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the 2014 Benovia Russian River Chardonnay continues Benovia’s remarkable success with this grape. Complex, elegant and beautifully textured, the 2014 Benovia Russian River Chardonnay first presents itself as sunshine in a glass, with a...

Jimena Lopez has fashioned a rich, bold-flavored wine in her 2015 Graffito Mendoza Cabernet Franc – her first Cabernet Franc under the Graffito label. Although deeper in color and fuller in flavor than many of its Old World counterparts, Graffito’s debut Cabernet Franc retains the haunting aroma and overt charm for which Bordeaux Cabernet Franc is renowned. Red and black currant aromas mixed with leafy and spice tones waft from the glass. In...

Whether it is Chardonnay or Shiraz, quality and individuality reign supreme at Nugan Estate. The 2015 barrel-fermented Nugan Estate Frasca’s Lane Chardonnay exhibits a beautiful pale straw, sunlit hue, but even more impressive is the wine’s intense aroma, redolent with the scents of ripe peach, pear, and melon, all of which come wrapped in a savory patina of vanilla from resting 14 months in French oak barrels. Rich and authoritative on the palate, yet lively and complex, this Chardonnay has the propensity to evolve in the...

Tait fashions only bold, full-throttle wines, and the winery’s newest release, the 2014 Tait The Border Crossing, is no exception. This sumptuous McLaren Vale Shiraz to which a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon has been added practically leaps from the glass. Beautiful berry, chocolate, plum, and floral notes stream from the glass to delight the nose. In the mouth, The Border Crossing explodes with rich, hedonistic blackberry, blueberry, and mint...

The 2016 Hermanos Valle de Cafayate Torrontés welcomes the eager imbiber with a bright, sunshiny robe and a fresh, intriguing bouquet that begs the taster to jump right in. Rose petal and tropical fruit flavors mingle with ginger and sandalwood scents to caress the nose, before seeping surreptitiously into the marrow of the wine. From the nose, one might expect a fruity or even a slightly sweet concoction, but Torrontés has a way of seducing...

Domaine Chamfort’s 2015 Côtes-du-Rhône is a traditional blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Cinsault from the village of Sablet. Born during the finest vintage in the Rhône Valley since 2010, the 2015 Chamfort Côtes-du-Rhône earned a highly coveted spot on the Recommended List from Wine Spectator. Sporting a brilliant deep ruby robe with flashes of violet, this aromatic, juicy wine reminds us of the finest Côtes-du-Rhônes of yesteryear.